Depeche Mode - Violator

This is the first of, hopefully, a number of guest blog posts written by my online buddy Herc (the link to his blog can be found along the right column and also here). He does a lot of music-based posts as well so you should check him out. I'll sprinkle my own comments in via italics.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Today (March 19th) marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Violator, Depeche Mode's seventh studio album. This 1990 release spent seventy-four weeks on the US Album Chart, peaking at number 7. Attesting to the band's global popularity, Violator made the Top 5 in the UK, Austria, Canada, Germany and Switzerland while topping the chart in France.

Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward

Today (September 24th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Some Great Reward, the fourth studio album from Depeche Mode. It charted at number 34 in the Netherlands, number 32 in Italy, number 19 in Austria, number 7 in Sweden, number 5 in Switzerland and the UK, and number 3 in Germany. Here, in the US, it spent forty-two weeks on the Billboard Album chart in 1985 with a top position of number 51.

Depeche Mode - Construction Time Again

This week marks the thirtieth anniversary of Construction Time Again, the third studio album from the British new-wave band Depeche Mode. Joining Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher was keyboardist Alan Wilder. This one charted at number 201 in the US, number 44 in New Zealand, number 34 in the Netherlands, number 21 in Switzerland, number 16 in France, number 12 in Sweden, number 7 in Germany and number 6 in the UK.

Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame

Today (September 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of A Broken Frame, the second studio album by Depeche Mode. Now a trio (Vince Clarke left the group), the band continued to build on the momentum of their debut album Speak & Spell (click here for my review of it) with this 1982 sophomore release.

Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell

Happy fifty-second birthday today (July 3rd) to English musician and songwriter Vince Clarke.

In 1980, Clarke formed a band with Dave Gahan (vocals), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitars), and Andy Fletcher (keyboards). Together, they took the world of synth-music by storm as Depeche Mode.

The group’s debut album Speak & Spell was released on October 5th, 1981. Clarke composed all of the tracks on the record which went to number 49 in Germany, number 45 in New Zealand, number 28 in Australia, number 21 in Sweden, and number 10 in the group’s native UK. In the US, it barely cracked the Billboard Hot 200 (only going to number 192) though it did find popularity on college radio stations.

Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses

British synth-pop band Depeche Mode released Music for the Masses, its sixth studio album, in the fall of 1987.

In the US, this one did very well - reaching number 35 on the Billboard album charts. In their native UK, the record made it to the top 10.